Harlan Mechling

Harlan is an associate in Tonkon Torp’s Litigation Department. He joined the firm from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California where he worked as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Michael Fitzgerald. While there, he produced a high volume of judicial orders in civil cases and advised Judge Fitzgerald on complex questions of law pertaining to intellectual property, employment discrimination, insurance coverage, ADA violations, and personal/subject matter jurisdiction. 

Prior to the U.S. District Court, Harlan served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Labor & Industries Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, and completed a clerkship with Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst of the Washington State Supreme Court.

Harlan graduated with honors from the University of Washington School of Law, where he received three CALI Awards and served as a Managing Editor of the Washington Law Review. During law school, he worked as a judicial extern with the Honorable Thomas Zilly at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, and worked at Stoel Rives, LLC as a litigation summer associate. He holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Oregon, where he served as President of the Student Senate and Director of Academic Affairs, and received the Centurion Award for Outstanding Leadership.

Away from the office, Harlan enjoys rafting, hiking, biking, and volunteering in the community. To relieve stress, he practices mindfulness meditation and enjoys running through different parts of Portland. Harlan is an avid fan of PAC-12 Football, particularly the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies.